Flippy-floppies

I was sleeping sooo soundly this morning when all of a sudden I heard the flippy-flop of a pair of large and floppy ears flopping and flying around. Jack always does that. Who needs an alarm clock when they have a dog with floppy ears? One would not think the sound is terribly loud, but the sound of this dog's flip-floppin' ears totally awakes the entire household - well..., except for Thurston - he sleeps through everything!

But really... it was 9:30 on this Saturday morning... I wanted to sleep more! Brad can't stand the sound of those ears! He has considered duck taping those ears to the side of poor Jack's head..., but that probably wouldn't be such a great idea..., then he wouldn't be able to hear anything - I guess. Maybe we should've gone on and clipped those babies - but he's sooo cute with the long ears!

We spent the day by having a late breakfast at Dr. Harrell's favorite breakfast joint, then spending 2 hours running around with Jack at the dog park at Shelby Farms, then coming home, doing a little cleaning, taught a piano lesson, then went to a women's prison to help lead a worship service.

We've been working on trying to get Jack to swim in the ponds at the dog park, but he's scared! Any ideas on how to get a 90 lb dog out in the water without scaring him to death? We tried sitting by the water side, throwing things in there for him to "fetch," and even throwing him in - which really didn't work and just made it worse. :) hhahha.

It is now 10pm, and since I work in church music, tomorrow morning comes fast and early. Dr. H is at his computer, I at mine, Jack is currently scratching his head, and little Thurst went on a vacation with his grandmother tonight.

Side note: the worship service at the women's prison was one of the most dynamic worship services I have even been in. I have never been anywhere where the congregation sang with such passion and strength; I completely had a wonderful experience. :)

Friends and Canines

I love telling people that I own a Great Dane. I'm sure the newness will wear off soon enough.., but still.. I'm somewhat of a social person and when I tell folks I have a Great Dane.. well, it sparks all kinds of good conversation.

One of the downsides of owning such a dog and not really getting him out that much, or not having people over is that when I do have a guest or a music student or.. anyone.. over, he goes completely insane. 

What Jack did today :

My BFF of 24 years (and we're 27!) came today in one of our rare chances to hang out - as in, sit in our bathing suits by the pool for 4 hours and chit chat about.. well... nothing. Lisa walks in the house and Jack goes nuts. Thurston goes crazy, but Jack really goes nuts. Its not in a bad, he's-knocking-her-on-the-floor-kind of way, but he's all excited and just really has no room to be. He's licking her feet, trying to sip her Sonic drink, putting his big rear on her, etc.

Lisa is like, 6 foot 11 - or something - is dark complected, has pretty long dark hair, and really could pass for a super model in her big ol pimpin sunglasses she likes to wear. I think Jack is really like that guy at Hollywood Feed - he just can't help it but act like a crazy moron when she walks in the room!

Typical guy!

So... we come in from the pool and take Jack outside - Thurston is watching from the front door. We're out there, still in our bathing suits, and Lisa decides she wants to take a picture with Jack. Mind you, I live in what is basically a retirement community, right on the street, in a condo. So I take Lisa's phone, and she tries to corral Jack into some kind of cute pose: he with his red collar and leash, and she in her bathing suit top and a white towel on. The pictures will surely be soon to come, but... basically we have 4 or 5 shots of Lisa and Jack, in motion, tongues hanging out, mouths open, body parts in mouths, towels flying, ears flying, and finally, Lisa lying on her back with a dog sitting over her in my front yard. Did I mention that there was a pooper scooper full of doo doo all right next to this?

My husband drives up - he's coming in from work. You can imagine what he was thinking as he rounded the corner and saw his wife with a camera, doo doo, Jack, and a supermodel lying in his front yard. :)

Welcome to the Harrells

My husband and I are in our late twenties - he informed me of this fact last night. When did "late twenties" happen? Anyway, we have been married for slightly over 4 years, own a condo in a (basically) retirement community in a suburb of Memphis, and are the proud parents of two children of the canine species.

Son number one was born on April 28, 2007. A precocious little black and white Shih-tzu, we named Thurston P. Harrell, III. We call him Thurst, sometimes Hunnie, and sometimes Pookie, but mostly its Thurst. My mom calls him Noodle - I don't know why.

Son number two was born on January 31, 2009. A very affectionate (and gorgeous, I might add) blue merle Great Dane, we named him Jackson Maximalin Harrell. Maximalin was his father's name. We call him Jack - so does everyone else, I think.

Not sure on how we came to have such two very different kinds of dogs, but it sure makes for an interesting life.

Daily schedule:
6:00am: wake up, iron Brad's clothes, take dogs out one by one, make Brad's breakfast and lunch.

7:00am: Have coffee, read magazine, or begin daily computer checking regimen. Begin on emails, church planning stuff, etc.

9:00am : take dogs out again, maybe together

9:30am: Back in for more computer stuff, practicing music, going through music, etc.
By this time, dogs are fully awake and running rampant through the house, Thurst practicing his usual soprano vocalises for the entire building to hear.

10:00am: Seperate dogs. Thurst in kitchen, Jack where ever I am. Must have peace.

Noon: lunch time. Let Jack in kitchen to eat - he doesn't. He just wants to torture Thurst. More soprano vocalises, but by now its mostly Mozart arias.

12:30pm: I am gettin g hungry - find something to eat, while mopping up drool that oozes from Jack's mouth each time someone turn the stove on.

1:00pm: Dogs out again. Possibly try to corral the both of the while checking the mailbox. They see a neighbor walking. Incessant barking takes place - full embarassment, dogs go back inside.

1:30pm: Finally. Go across the street to teach piano lessons. What a relief. Jack in his kennel, Thurst in the kitchen.

7:00pm: Arrive home to husband sitting in front of computer and dogs asleep on the carpet beside him. They notice Mommy is home. Happiness abounds. I love that.

7:10pm: Ask Brad if they've been outside recently? Not since you've been home? Take both dogs out. Jack immediately does #1 and #2. Thurston must sniff every blade of grass in community before doing either. Two hours later, arrive back at home; 3 microscopic turds in hand.

9:00pm: Too tired to cook. Heat up leftovers or drive to nearest fast food restaurant.

9:45pm: Eat french fries in bed. Try to keep dogs off of bed because of food.

10:30pm: Take dogs out one last time. Jack goes, Thurst does not. Good night!